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Sunday, October 18, 2026

a Sunday visit...

I know, two posts in a week…hard to believe, but it's a quiet Sunday and I thought I would try and be more diligent in posting.

I realized I haven’t shared the remaining four months of a cross-stitch piece I’ve had for ages. No, the work isn’t mine. It was hanging on the wall of a sweet, general store-type of shop that was going out of business. Sigh; I felt that needed a home. It doesn’t hang on a wall, but is gently rolled up to display each month and then tucked into a basket.







A couple of Saturdays ago, my daughter and I paid a visit to Malabar Farm, the home of author and conservationist Louis Bromfield - also the spot for the wedding of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall (if you’re old enough to recall those names!) The farm is now a state park, but also continues as a working farm whose beautiful scenery is spread out over 1000 acres. During a tour of the house, it was pointed out that there are two original Grandma Moses paintings, which were given to Mr. Bromfield as gifts by the painter, and are considered priceless - as a fan of her artwork, they were incredible to see up close.





Hmmm, let me ask your opinion. My hope is next spring I'll be working on an unfitted kitchen...out with the cupboards and paneling that are vintage, but not in a good way. I'm on a mission for freestanding cupboards that will fit the space.

Here is the kitchen I've been in love with for years. The sink is waiting for me...it was rescued from a house that was hit by a truck...yes, seriously. I could see it in the back room through the gaping hole in the front. I found the owners, and then lugged that heavy gem home. 




And so I've had my eye on this cupboard...the lightest shade of blue, it looks genuinely old. In a retro kitchen with robin's egg blue, aqua, and cherry red it would be lovely. But not for me. I hate the thought of painting over antiques...that old paint is part of their charm.  A reminder of their history that's worth preserving.  

Grrr...but is it original paint? Who can know...I need to take a close look at the back, hinges, inside of the doors, and underside as well as the nails. 


And I hate to admit it, but I resorted to AI to see what it would look like if it was red. Hmmm, I love white beadboard, but this fits more with my plan...thoughts? I refuse to paint my Boone cupboard or my old pie safe...they will stay their original dark stains. I'm still unsure...it's been at this antique shop for a couple of years. Maybe there's a kitchen it was meant to be in other than mine.

And so it goes...random musings for a Sunday afternoon. 



With these perfect autumn days, Bailey and I have been taking walks,




and hanging out in the backyard reading, listening to podcasts, and enjoying the sounds of Fall. 

As I once read:

These are the days we will remember forever .



13 comments:

  1. I love the old original paint on primitives! My pie safe is cranberry with punched tin. I have a corner cupboard, that I thought was brown when I bought it. When we took it home and started washing, it was Robin egg blue! Oh I have white ones too. Plain pine ones. Primitives are my heart! I love that sink.

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    1. Absolutely agree the old things really have heart and soul, don’t they? lucky you to have so many wonderful old pieces!

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  2. Hello!!!!! I love all your ideas and your style! I hope you are enjoying autumn in your beautiful world.

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    1. Oh these favorite days are going too quickly - so glad you stopped by, love seeing the peacefulness of your world as well.

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  3. Love the cross stitch set. The days have been splendid here, with cool mornings, sunny days and no bugs in the garden! I think I have to agree with you that October is my favorite month.
    Your kitchen will come together just as you envision. Love the sink you've chosen, and the curtain underneath just screams vintage farmhouse. You deserve your heart's desire, my friend.

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    1. You are too kind – Daisy. I’m hoping it’s my time – you know how it goes - bills to pay, college expenses, lost jobs. Fingers crossed a simple farmhouse kitchen is in my future.

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  4. Those Gramma Moses works of art are just priceless for sure. I so love the little stitches. The Santa is a Prairie Schooler one. You know me on painting antique furniture, so I am not the right person for advise. It is truly your decision. Janice

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    1. I couldn’t agree more, Janice - I really didn’t like that the seller painted that big old canning cupboard black, I would’ve taken the muddy mustard, but she wasn’t gonna budge. Do you really think that cupboard was painted the light blue originally, or is that a newer paint someone has added? I’ll take a closer look this week

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  5. Your new kitchen will look fantastic! I can't wait to see your ideas brought to life. X

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    1. Awww thanks for cheering me on, Jules! I keep hearing from the kids, “but there’s no countertops” -ha,ha!

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  6. What wonderful plans you have!! I am certain your kitchen will be absolutely fabulous. When we added on ("WWR" LOL), I had hoped to do the same - free standing furniture type pieces vs. cupboards but because of the manner in which things unfolded, there was a bulldozer in my kitchen window before I knew things were even going to happen and had little time to dream, plan, or peruse. When I was put in touch with the contractor who was going to do the kitchen cupboards (yes, that's how it happened...no choice in the matter on my end), they looked at me like a deer in headlights when I described what I was envisioning. I even showed them some of David T. Smith's work and the looks I received then put me in shut-down mode. I had to coax them into even distressing things a bit... It was a painstaking - and painful. - process. So many things I wish I could do differently but I am, nonetheless, grateful to have a new, functional, and, yes, beautiful, kitchen. Anyway! Beautiful little cupboard you have your eye on. Like you and Janice...and Jacky...I certainly hesitate to alter old paint. (But, truth be told, I would sometimes make exception for "vintage" paint vs. "antique" ;-). (PS....Amazingly gorgeous yard!! Wow!)

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    1. Oh golly friend, that last picture is not my backyard! I’m sorry if that’s how I made it sound, that’s a spot not far from here. I’m also sorry you didn’t get what you wanted exactly, grrr - but i know it’s really lovely - that hidden fridge is what I want. I know I’ll get an eye roll over that. Ugh- and yes, people look at me like I have two heads when I say I like things that are old or look old with character. Good grief, let me be me! (See, this is what I mean - you’d be tired of me we lived close - gnashing of teeth!)

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    2. PS - if you make your way back here, absolutely love the workshops of David T Smith, yet again, kindred spirits! And do you really think that light blue is old? I just don’t think that light shade of blue fits the age of the cupboard. I think someone’s tinkered with it. oh well, I’ll be back to check it out for a closer inspection – will return and report !

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit!

 
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